New Zealand's attack is more pace-heavy, and it had to rely on the part-time off-breaks of Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill in the previous game. There will be some change to the bowling attack with Tim Southee injured and Matt Henry, who took four wickets in each of the first two ODIs, back in the squad. Mitchell McClenaghan has also been impressive, being among the wickets and maintaining a tight economy rate and he was particularly effective in the third ODI, where he took 1 for 39 off nine overs, even as Sri Lanka chased down 277 in just 46.2 overs.
While New Zealand has the leg-spin of Ish Sodhi and the left-arm spin of Mitchell Santner to turn to, Sri Lanka is not lacking in spin resources, with several options and variety. There are two off-spinners in Sachithra Senanayake and Ajantha Mendis, and a wrist spinner in Jeffrey Vandersay. Milinda Siriwardana bowls left-arm spin and is a useful all-round weapon, while Tillakaratne Dilshan can also turn his arm over for a few off-breaks.
Another factor that will give Sri Lanka a confidence boost is the fact that the match takes place at the Saxton Oval, the same venue as the third ODI. The surface is expected to have something in it for the spinners – like it did in the previous match – which could work to Sri Lanka’s advantage.
New Zealand had won the first two matches comfortably, but the visiting side came back with a superb eight-wicket win in the third ODI, to keep the series margin to 2-1 with two matches to go.
Sri Lanka will be confident of its prospects in the fourth One-Day International against New Zealand in Nelson on Saturday (January 2), with victory needed to keep the series alive.